a gender that refers chiefly (but not exclusively) to females or to objects classified as female
"The feminine pronoun she is used to refer to a female person or animal, though it can also apply to certain grammatical categories."
That which is feminine.
"The flower's delicate petals and soft fragrance are distinctly feminine."
of grammatical gender
"In Italian, nouns like "casa" are feminine because they require articles and adjectives that agree in their grammatical gender."
Of or pertaining to the female gender; womanly.
"The feminine handwriting on the letter was elegant and flowing."
In plain English: Feminine describes qualities, behaviors, or roles that are traditionally associated with girls and women.
"Her elegant dress and graceful walk were very feminine."
Usage: Use feminine to describe characteristics, roles, or grammatical genders associated with females rather than biological sex alone. Avoid confusing it with masculine when referring specifically to male traits or categories.
The word feminine comes from the Latin term fēminīnus, which originally meant "pertaining to a woman." This Latin root is derived from fēmina, meaning "woman," and traces back to an ancient Indo-European concept related to nursing or breastfeeding.